TOWN OF RIB MOUNTAIN Marathon County, Wisconsin OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN 2015-2019 North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Acknowledgements Town or Rib Mountain Board Members Allen Opall, Chairperson Gerry Klein, Supervisor Fred Schaefer, Supervisor Jim Legner, Supervisor Peter Kachel, Supervisor Park Commission Bill Bursaw, Chairperson Chad Grundemann, Vice Chairperson Liesle Markevitch, Secretary Brad Conklin Mai Herr Duane Zeichert Andrea Larson Staff for this Plan Scott Turner, P.E., Street & Park Superintendent Fred Heider, AICP, Principal Author, NCWRPC Matt Guptail, GISP, GIS Technician, NCWRPC This plan is effective from January 1, 2015-December 31, 2019. Adopted: December 2014 This plan was prepared under the direction of the Town of Rib Mountain Public Works Department by the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. For more information contact: NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION 210 MCCLELLAN STREET, SUITE 210 WAUSAU, WI 54403 Phone: 715-849-5510 www.ncwrpc.org TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTERS 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 A. Purpose................................................................................... 1 B. Provisions For Plan Updates .................................................... 1 C. Reference Plans and Laws ....................................................... 2 2. BACKGROUND OF RIB MOUNTAIN ............................................................ 8 A. Introduction ............................................................................ 8 B. Land Use ................................................................................ 8 C. Demographics ......................................................................... 8 D. Economic Development ......................................................... 11 3. EXISTING RECREATION FACILITIES ........................................................ 12 A. Parks and Conservancy Classifications .................................. 12 B. Park Facilities in Rib Mountain ............................................. 13 4. OUTDOOR RECREATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT ...................................... 18 A. Introduction .......................................................................... 18 B. Public Participation ............................................................... 18 C. Needs Driven Park Planning .................................................. 19 1. Park Design Criteria ..................................................... 19 2. Park Service Areas ....................................................... 19 3. Level Of Service ............................................................ 20 Summary of Needs Driven Park Planning .......................... 22 5. OUTDOOR RECREATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ............................... 25 6. RECOMMENDATIONS & CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ................................. 26 A. Recommendations ................................................................. 26 B. Capital Improvements 2014-2019 ......................................... 36 7. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES ............................................................. 38 ATTACHMENTS A. Park Design and Location Criteria B. Facility Design Standards C. Federal and State Outdoor Recreation Funding Programs D. 2011-2016 Wisconsin SCORP Summary E. Wausau MPO Bike & Pedestrian Facility Implementation Table (2009 list) F. County Highway KK – Bicycle Path Alternative Map G. Sidewalk Fixes on Rib Mountain Drive H. Marking Public Water Access Sites I. Bicycle Parking Guidelines J. Rib Mountain Bike & Pedestrian Improvements Map K. Rib Mountain’s Survey Results Summary L. Potential Base of Rib Mountain Parking Lot Layout M. Potential Multi-Use Trail Expansion – Doepke to S. Mtn. Elem. MAPS Map 1 Recreation Facilities ..................................................................... 6 Map 2 Bike Routes .................................................................................. 7 Map 3 Park Service Areas...................................................................... 24 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION A. PURPOSE The primary purpose of this outdoor recreation plan is to provide continued direction toward meeting the current This Comprehensive and future recreation needs of the Town of Rib Mountain. Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP) was prepared Adoption of this plan by the Town of Rib Mountain Board pursuant to Wisconsin and subsequent acceptance by the Wisconsin Department Statute §23.30 Outdoor of Natural Resources (WDNR) will continue the Town's Recreation Program. This eligibility for Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund section serves "to promote, Program (LWCF), and State Knowles–Nelson Stewardship encourage, coordinate, and Program funds under: Aids for the Acquisition and implement a Development of Local Parks (ADLP), Urban Green Space comprehensive long-range Program (UGS), and Urban Rivers Grant Program (URGP). plan to acquire, maintain, and develop for public use, Non-profit conservation organizations (NCOs) are eligible to those areas of the state participate in the Knowles–Nelson Stewardship Program best adapted to the under the Urban Green Space and Aids for the Acquisition development of a and Development of Local Parks programs. NCOs may comprehensive system of adopt or carry out recommendations from a comprehensive state and local outdoor outdoor recreation plan of the local unit of government in recreation facilities and which the NCO project is located or use their land services...” management plans that are required for participation in the stewardship programs. Submission of this adopted CORP to the Wisconsin Department of Natural This plan is organized by: Resources establishes 1. Reviewing other plans and laws that affect outdoor eligibility for the local unit recreation (Chapter 1); of government to apply for 2. Describing the Town demographics (Chapter 2); a variety of Federal and 3. Inventorying what park facilities exist within the State Aids for outdoor Town (Chapter 3); recreation (Chapter NR 4. Asking the public about their needs for outdoor 50.06(4), Wisconsin recreation (Chapters 4 & 5); & administrative code). 5. Recommendations are made to satisfy identified needs (Chapter 6). B. PROVISIONS FOR PLAN UPDATES Plan amendments are common and should be considered part of the planning process. They frequently represent good implementation or plan usage and should be acceptable for consideration by local decision makers. Amendments must follow the same process as the original plan and generally prolong the effectiveness of the plan. Town of Rib Mountain ORP NCWRPC Page 1 2015-2019 C. REFERENCE PLANS & LAWS This plan was written to continue the parks and recreation program established in the Town of Rib Mountain Outdoor Recreation Plans since 1977. Each plan and law listed below affects outdoor recreation in the Town of Rib Mountain. Complete Streets Law Wisconsin’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations law addressing Complete Streets was codified in 2009. It was incorporated as State statute §84.01(35) and later into administrative rule as Transportation 75. Complete Streets are roadways designed and operated to enable safe, convenient, and comfortable access and travel for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transport users of all ages and abilities are able to safely and comfortably move along and across a complete street. All roads receiving state or federal funding through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) must also accommodate bicycles and pedestrians per this law. Local governments may pass their own Complete Streets ordinances to cover their own road networks. Specific guidelines related to traffic counts, and if the road is urban or rural, are used in these ordinances to determine whether a sidewalk, path, or lane is needed to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians. State Trails Network Plan This 2001 document [revised in 2003] clarifies the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) role and strategy in the provision of all types of trails. The plan identifies a series of potential trail corridors that would link existing trails, public lands, natural features, and communities. This statewide network of interconnected trails would be owned and maintained by municipalities, private entities, and partnerships of the two. Preserving transportation corridors, such as old rail lines, is specifically discussed as a very important strategy in the creation of recreational and alternative transportation corridors. Two segments affect the Town of Rib Mountain. Segment 18 – Tomahawk to Wisconsin Dells A power line corridor along County Trunk Highway X from Wausau to Stevens Point should be considered a component of the statewide "backbone" trail system. This potential trail not only connects the communities of Wausau and Stevens Point, but also could link with the Green Circle State Trail and several other proposed trail corridors. NCWRPC Note: This power line corridor is on the west side of the Wisconsin River in the Town of Rib Mountain. Segment 52 – Wausau to Marshfield Marathon County also recognizes this abandoned rail corridor form Wausau to Marshfield as having significant trail potential. After rail line abandonment in the early 1980s the county took part of the rail right-of-way for tax purposes. A section near Wausau serves as a power line corridor. Sections of corridor have also reverted to adjacent landowners, but there may be opportunities